LeBad Choice: LeBron The Biggest Loser Following 'The Decision'

Let me start off by saying that up until now I have loved LeBron James and thought he would be the greatest basketball player ever when all is said and done.

Also, I am an unbiased Mavericks fan, not a Cleveland fan going on a rant (a la Dan Gilbert).

When LeBron James announced that he would "take [his] talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat" he angered nearly every fan from every team in the league.

First and foremost, the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers no longer view James as a king, but more as a popper.

Nothing will make Cavs fans smile wider than seeing LeBron crash and burn in Miami. He went from their knight in shining armor to their Benedict Arnold.

On top of video surfacing of Cavaliers fans burning LeBron jerseys in the streets of Cleveland, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has publicly displayed his displeasure, calling his decision, "narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his 'decision' unlike anything ever 'witnessed' in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment."

He went on to declare that he "PERSONALLY GUARANTEE[S] THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

On top of the Cavaliers, the fans of all the other teams who felt they had a shot at getting LeBron is angry at him for not picking their city.

Chicago, New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, among others, expected, or at least hoped, that LeBron would choose their city and when he didn't, he went from a savior to a villain.

Even I was a fairly angry at him when I realized he would not even consider the Mavericks, who I thought offered him everything he wanted.

Old school basketball fans look on James' decision as an easy way to run away from his troubles in an easier attempt to win a championship.

It has been tradition in the NBA for stars to stay with their team and work with what they have to try to win a championship. Don't believe me? Ask Michael or Kobe or Bird or Magic.

John Stockton played his entire career in Utah, even though he was not able to win a championship.

Most people think that LeBron is taking the easy route and joining a superteam instead of proving he can lead a team to a championship by himself.

By going to a team that already had three superstars, LeBron basically gave up the ability to be the clear-cut best player on the court. He chose hopeful championships over his own legacy in doing so.

It will be much harder for LeBron to win MVP awards and scoring titles when he will be expected to share the load with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Finally, LeBron and the Heat have already been deemed NBA champions by virtually everyone when they don't even have enough players to sport a team.

Expectations for this team will be through the roof, and if they don't deliver, it will all fall on the shoulders on King James.

Any way you look at it, LeBron lost with his decision. He went from one of the most loved players in the NBA to one of the most hated in one night.

This decision will tarnish his legacy and any chance of him ending up the greatest player to play the game are all but out the door.

LeBron, you better pull through and win a championship, or this will have all been for nothing.